Valve handle



y 26, 1959 E. J. URBAS 2,887,899

' VALVE HANDLE Filed A ril 7, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

a 4/ :IE 1D WM/VM United States Patent VALVE HANDLE Ernest J. Urbas,Euclid, Ohio, assignor to The Guarantee Specialty Manufacturing Company,Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation Application April 7, 1953, Serial No.347,334 Z'Claims. (Cl. 74-545) The primary object of my presentinvention, is to provide an extremely simplified form of handle or keyfor gascocks or valves, and one which may be manufactured at relativelylow cost.

In the carrying out of my invention, I produce the valve key or handlefrom sheet metal, and in order to afford ample bearing for the openingin the handle which receives the flat-sided portion of the stem of thevalve, the piece of metal employed of elongated form, is folded uponitself so that it will be of double thickness at the point where thestem receiving opening is punched therein. In addition to the foldingover of an end portion of the metal for the purpose above specified, themain body of the piece of sheet metal from which my handle is formed,has its longitudinal edge portions bent against and over the part whichis folded against the body, thereby rigidifying the folded portion withthe body to afford substantially the same advantages as if the bodyportion and .said folded portion were integral.

In the practical embodiments of my invention, it is contemplated thatthe flat-sided opening in the handle member may be located centrally ofthe body portion which is to be grasped in manipulating a valve, or saidopening may be disposed near one 'end of the body portion in which eventthe handle will extend substantially in one direction only from thevalve stem. Under any and all conditions, however, it is contemplatedthat the said flat-sided opening by which the handle is keyed orinter-locked with the flat end portion of the valve stem shall be formedin the double thickness layer of metal which is provided incident tobending one end of the body metal against the underside of the main bodyportion thereof.

The preferred embodiments of my invention, are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a view in front elevation of a conventional form of gascockillustrating the form of my handle or key in which the stem engagingopening is provided at the middle portion of the handle.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the construction disclosed in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view illustrating a modified form of theinvention wherein the stem engaging opening of the handle is adjacent toone end thereof.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation showing the construction of Figure'S.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the modification of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is an end view of the handle or key and the View illustratesthe structure whether made in the modification of the type of Figure 1or the modification of the type of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a view looking toward the opposite end of the handle fromthat illustrated in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe form of handle shown inFigure 5, also Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the handle of the typeillustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the blank piece of flat metal from which thehandle is made.

In the accompanying drawings, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, acommon form of gascock generally designated 1, which is equipped with avalve which may be turned in either direction to open the same from itsclosed position. The said valve is operable by means of the usual valvestem 2, the upper end of which is reduced and formed with the flat sidedextension or boss 3 of customary form, the latter entering the openingwhich is provided in the handle of corresponding shape, to interlock thestem 2 with said handle.

When the handle of this invention which is designated 4 in Figure 1 andother figures showing the same construction is to be permanentlyattached to the stem 2 of the gascock or like valve, the usual washer 5and screw 6 adjuncts will be employed as well known in the art.

When the handle or key of the invention is to be utilized primarily as akey attachable and detachable from the stem 2, the washer 5 and thescrew 6 will be dispensed with.

Flurther describing the handle 4, reference is made to Figures 2 and 9wherein it will be seen that the main body of metal forming the handle 4has an extended end portion thereon folded underneath the same anddesignated 4-11, the folding being performed by the usual use of diesdesigned for the bending operation. The portion 4-a is bent so as to beflat against the bottom or underside of the handle 4 body in closecontact therewith. To rigidify the whole body stnucture of the handle 4,longitudinal edge flanges 7 are bent laterally or downwardly from themain body portion, and pressed against the longitudinal edges of the'folded portion 4-a, the lower edges of said flanges 7 being bent tooverlie slightly the longitudinal edges of the portion 4-a so that theflanges 7 are not only pressed against the longitudinal vertical edgesof the part 4-a, but inwardly toward the body of the handle and oversuch edges so to speak to thus consolidate the portions 4a and 4 asdesignated in the drawings, into a rigid structure by reason of theengaging action of said flanges 7 with the edge portions of the part4-a.

As seen in the drawings, the folded portion 4-a of my handle, extendsalong the top of body portion of the handle a distance slightly :greaterthan half the distance of the length of the unit, and Figure 9 shows themanner of punching of the holes supplied in the handle of Figures 1 and2.

First there is provided the middle 'hole or opening 8, the flat side ofwhich is seen in Figure 8 when the hole is arranged according to theillustration in Figure 2. Next, there are also provided spaced sideopenings 9 and 10, the opening 9 being only made in one thickness of themetal, whereas the opening 10 is provided in both thicknesses of themetal as seen in Figure 9.

The openings 9 and 10 are mere side openings through which indicia wordssuch as on and o seen in Figure 2, may be visible when the valve isturned in either direction from its on position to an intermediate offposition.

Figure 8 illustrates the flat sided opening 8-a of the valve handle nearone end of the latter, and there is also provided a single side opening9-a in this construction, usable for the same purpose as itscorresponding opening in the construction of Figure 9, namely to enablethe on and ofi indicia on the valve to be seen when the handle is movedfrom one position, say the on position, to the ofi position and viceversa.

It will be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided avery simple structure for my handle or key, one of the utmost rigidity,one in which ample depth of the flat sided opening to receive the valvestem is obtained, and an article of manufacture that can be manufacturedat very low cost, making it very desirable to the purchasing public. Theflanges 7, in addition to their rigidifying action, provide smoothsurfaces, instead of the raw edges of the metal body at the longitudinaledges of the handle so the latter may be turned readily on graspingwithout liability of cutting the hand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an integral valve handle forgascocks or the like, comprising a single elongated piece of flat metalof uniform thickness having one end thereof folded against one side ofthe 'body thereof so as to lie fiat against said side, the body beingwider than the folded end portion and formed with flanges on itslongitudinal edges lying against the longitudinal edges of the foldedend portion, said flanges being arcuately rollled over the edges of thefolded end portion, the body and folded end having a stem receivingopening formed therethrough.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a valve handle for gascocks or thelike, comprising an integral body consisting of an elongated piece ofsheet metal having a section of like thickness reversely bent flatagainst a side thereof, the body piece being formed with longitudinalflanges lying impingingly against the edges of the section and at leastpartially forced over the same for reinforcing and uniting the latter tothe body piece of metal, both said pieces of metal having registeringopenings therethrough to receive a valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,038,373 Irons Sept. 10, 1912 1,545,462 Watson et al. July 3, 19251,670,453 Klous May 22, 1928 1,734,356 Welch Nov. 5, 1929 2,131,883Becker Oct. 4, 1938 2,497,283 Whaharem et al Feb. 14, 1950 2,499,739Forbes Mar. 7, 1950 2,637,584 Atkinson May 5, 1953 2,669,011 BurmbaughFeb. 16, 1954

